Adjustable hinge.



PATENTED APR. 4, 1905.

J. LUPPINO.

.ADJUSTABLE HINGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Wifwzowo PATBNTED APR. 4, 1905. J. LU-PPINO.

ADJUSTABLE HINGE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 31, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I attoznw.

UNITED STATES Patented April 4, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH LUPPINO, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SENG COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ADJUSTABLE HINGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,451, dated April 4., 1905.

Application filed May 31, 1904. Serial No. 210,414.

T0 (0 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH LUPPINO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of Oalifornia,have invented an Adjustable Hinge, of which the following is a full and complete specification.

This invention relates to hinges, especially that class thereof employed in connection with couch-heads, Morris chairs, &c., wherein it is desirable to hinge a component part of the article of furniture in such manner that it may be readily adjusted at any desired inclination and locked, the locking and unlocking being accomplished by a manipulation of the hinged component part.

Various objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed outin the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows in elevation my improved hinge applied to the frame and head of a couch, the head being shown as in its first adjusted position, and therefore nearly completely lowered. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the head being in its highest adjusted position. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of the movable guide-plate; Fig. 4, a similar view in plan. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2, showing the head elevated slightly above or beyond the point shown in Fig. 2, whereby the hinge is unlocked. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view on line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the drawings.

I have shown my hinge, for the purpose of illustration, as applied between a couch-frame and its head, but, as will be obvious, it may be applied to numerous other uses. As is usual in this class of hinges, the same comprises a pair of plates or leaves 1 20f any shape or design which will adapt them for the particular application or use, and such plates or leaves are provided with extensions 3, overlapped and connected by a pintle 4c.

Pivotally connected to the plate or leaf 1 by rivet 5 is a gravity-pawl 6, the lower edge of which has the usual inclined teeth. A staple 7 or its equivalent projects from the face of the opposite or companion plate or leaf 2, and through the same extends the free end of said pawl, the teeth being designed to successively engage with the lower end of the staple as the two plates or leaves are separated. At its front end the pawl is formed with a shoulder 8, disposed outwardly from the face of the pawl and preferably inclined to such an extent that when the plates or leaves are separated to the fullest degree, as in Figs. 2 and 3, the said shoulder will act as a stop, limiting such separation, and lie substantially parallel to the staple 7 The pawl is further provided upon its opposite or inner face with a headed stud 9. (Best shown in Figs. 4 and 6.)

1O designates a guide-plate, the same being located upon the face of the plate or leaf 2 and having an aperture 11 in its rear lower corner through which the lower leg of the staple 7 may pass to aid in its retention. Another aperture, 12, is formed near the lower edge of the guide-plate in advance of the opening 11, and engaging loosely therewith is a headed stud 13, extending from the face of the plate or leaf 2. The plate 10 has its upper edge gradually curved and at its front end slightly inwardly bent, as at 14. The aperture 11 is slightly larger than the staple that passes therethrough, and the opening 12 is somewhat countersunk, so that as a result the guide-plate is capable of a slight lateral play or movement.

In operation the two plates are secured by the usual screws to the couch-frame 16 and the head 17. Taking the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1 it will be observed that the head may be elevated to any desired degree, the teeth of the pawl successively engaging the lower leg of the staple, and by releasing the head when the desired inclination has been reached said head will be sustained by the hinge in a manner obvious and usual. I/Vhen it is desired to lower the head, it is elevated to the position shown in Fig. 5, wherein, as will be seen, the shoulder 8 has been brought against the staple, as in Fig. 2, and a continued separation of the hinge has caused the shoulder to ride up the vertical portion of the staple, thus raising the pawl to a height that its teeth are above the point of engagement with the lower leg of the staple. When the pawl 6 has been thus elevated, its headed stud 9 is above the guide-plate 10, and a slight lowering of the head releases the pawl from its binding contact with the staple and permits the pawl to fall until its stud 9 engages the upper edge of the guide-plate 10. Thus the pawl is held elevated during a lowering of the head and until the stud 9 passes over and beyond the front end of the guide plate. By the time the stud passes from the guideplate and the pawl drops so that its teeth are in position for reengagement with the pawl the head is completely lowered. In again adjusting the head and separating the leaves the stud 9 will abutagainst the slightly-flanged end 14, and thus forcing the guide-plate toward the plate or leaf 2, never releasing the same until the leaves are again separated to an extent sufficient to bring the stud 9 above the guide-plate.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the upper rear corner of the guide-plate 10 is slightly flared, as indicated at 15, so that the stud 9 is bound to strike and engage the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A hinge, comprising opposite hingeleaves pivoted together at one corner, a toothed pawl pivoted to one of said leaves and terminating opposite the other leaf in a stop, an engaging device for the pawl carried by the second or companion leaf and against which said stop is adapted to abut, a guide-plate mounted on said companion leaf, and a projection on the pawl adapted to engage the upper edge of the guide-plate when said pawl is elevated so that its teeth are out of engagement with said engaging device, whereby the pawl is supported duringaclosing movement of said leaves.

2. A hinge, comprising opposite hinge leaves pivoted together at one c0rner,a toothed pawl pivoted to one of said leaves and terminating opposite the other leaf in a stop, an engaging device for the pawl carried by the second or companion leaf and against which said stop is adapted to abut, a guide-plate mounted for lateral movement on said companion leaf,and a projection on the pawl ad apted to engage the upper edge of the guide-plate when said pawl is elevated so that its teeth are out of engagement with said engaging device,

whereby the pawl is supported during a closing movement of said leaves.

3. A hinge, comprising opposite hingeleaves pivoted together at one corner,a toothed pawl pivoted to one of said leaves and terminating opposite the other leaf in an inclined shoulder or flange forming a stop, a staple projecting from the face of said companion leaf and receiving the toothed pawl, a guide-plate mounted on said companion leaf, and a projection on the pawl adapted to engage the upper edge of the guide-platc when said pawl is elevated so that its teeth are out of engagement with said engaging device, whereby the pawl is supported during a closing movement of said leaves.

4:. A hinge, comprising opposite hingeleaves pivoted together at one corner,a toothed pawl pivoted to one of said leaves and terminating opposite the other or companion leaf in a stop, an engaging device for the pawl carried by the companion leaf and having a vertical portion against which said stop is designed to abut,- a guide-plate mounted for lateral movement upon said companion leaf and between it and the pawl, said guide-plate being provided at its front end with a shallow flange let and at its rear upper end with an offset 15, and a stud carried by the pawl and adapted to engage the upper edge of the guideplate when the leaves are separated to their fullest extent.

5. A hinge, comprising the opposite hingeleaves 1 and 2, and hinged at their upper corners, as at 4C, the staple 7 projecting from the leaf 2, the stud 13 projecting from said leaf in advance of the staple, the guide-plate 10 having at its front end flange lt and at its upper rear corner the offset 15, and having openings 11 and 12 loosely receiving the lower leg of the staple and the stud 13, and the toothed racl -bar 6 mounted for movement between the staple and guide-plate and pivoted, as at 5, to the leaf 1, the inclined flange 8 forming a stop at the free end of the pawl, and the stud 9 projecting from the inner face thereof and adapted to engage and ride upon the upper edge of the plate 10, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH LUPPINO. Witnesses:

FRANK H. JAoKsoN, CHARLES O. MORGAN. 

